Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], April 20 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's Principal Media Advisor, Naresh Chauhan, has alleged that the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government issued advertisements worth Rs 2.92 crore to RSS-affiliated publications and organisations--many of which, he claimed, have no circulation or presence in the state.

His statement comes amid a political storm over the Congress-led government's decision to allot advertisements worth over Rs 2.34 crore to the National Herald newspaper. The BJP has accused the state government of misusing public funds, but Chauhan has strongly countered these allegations.

'The BJP is presenting incorrect data. The opposition is misleading the public. In its time, the Jairam Thakur government gave advertisements to organisations like Organiser, Panchjanya, Deep Kamal Sandesh, ABVP Shimla Magazine, Tarun Bharat magazine, Nagpur, Matravandana, Chhatra Udghosh, and Bharat Prakashan, Delhi. These ads, worth Rs 2.92 crore in total, were issued even though these publications have no existence in Himachal,' Chauhan said.

Chauhan asserted that the opposition is circulating false figures regarding the advertisements given to the National Herald.

'While the BJP is accusing the Congress government of splurging public money, the reality is that these opposition allegations are a part of a larger conspiracy to discredit the government,' he added.

Chauhan said, 'National Herald is a weekly paper since 1938 before independence. The way in which our national leaders are being chargesheeted through ED is a political vendetta. In the National Herald, there was no transaction of money or property. Then, how has the ED entered? Associated Journals Limited used to run the National Herald. The Congress government gave a loan of 90 crores to AJL. The company was under debt, so to finish off the debt, the 'Young Indians' company was created. The company was created under no profit. If both the companies belong to Congress then what problem does the BJP have. Rahul Gandhi has said he is not going to be afraid.'

Chauhan also addressed the controversy surrounding the National Herald, which has a historical connection to the Indian freedom movement. He said the opposition is questioning the credibility of a newspaper that played a significant role during the freedom struggle.

Displaying a copy of the National Herald, Chauhan said the newspaper has its presence, and the BJP is misleading. 'The newspaper is very much in print. The opposition's claim that it does not publish at all is baseless,' he said.

However, when asked how many copies of the National Herald are circulated in Himachal Pradesh, Chauhan was unable to provide a specific number and reportedly avoided the question, walking away from reporters.

The controversy has intensified after it was revealed during a legislative session that National Herald received Rs 2.34 crore in advertisements, a figure which the government itself had placed on record. Now, Chauhan claims the actual amount is Rs 1.01 crore. This discrepancy in figures has further fueled the political row.

In a separate issue, Chauhan also commented on reports that the bill for the Chief Secretary's Holi party was paid from the government treasury, offering his personal opinion.

'It is my personal view that the Chief Secretary should have paid for the Holi party out of his own pocket,' he said. However, he added that only the Chief Secretary can clarify what the official rules permit in such cases.

The issue has become a major flashpoint between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, with both sides accusing each other of financial improprieties in government advertising practices. (ANI)